Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

A safety ski binding embodying a release plate intended to be fixedly retained at the ski boot and which can be locked with the ski through the agency of locking pins. According to important aspects of this invention it is contemplated that at the region of at least one end of the release plate there are provided two locking pins disposed adjacent one another to both sides of the central lengthwise axis of the associated ski, these pins cooperating with recesses provided at the relevant end of the release plate in such a manner that during sideward release of the release plate only always one of both locking pins comes into operable play, yet upon loading the release plate towards the top and in the lengthwise direction of the ski both locking pins come into play.

United States Patent [191 Gertsch et al.

[451 Dee 25, 1973 SAFETY SKI BINDING [76] Inventors: Ernst Gertsch, Sparthaus Central,

Wengen; Ulrich Gertsch, 461 G Aenderbergstrasse, Matten, lnterlaken, both of Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 168,561

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 6, 1970 Switzerland 11857/70 [52] U.S. Cl. ..280/1l.35 K [51] Int. Cl. A63c 9/08 [58] Field of Search 280/11.35 K, 11.35 R, 280/1l.35 T, 11.35 D

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,630,538 12/1971 Klein et al 280/] 1.35 T

3,504,922 4/1970 Wiley 280/ll.35 T 3,489,424 1/1970 Gertsch et al.... 280111.35 K 3,606,368 9/1971 Smolka et al.... 280/ll.35 D 3,492,014 l/l970 Von Besser 280/1 1.35 K

10/1929 Switzerland 280/] 1.35 D 8/1962 France 280, 11.35 T

[57] ABSTRACT A safety ski binding embodying a release plate intended to be fixedly retained at the ski boot and which can be locked with the ski through the agency of locking pins. According to important aspects of this invention it is contemplated that at the region of at least one end of the release plate there are provided two locking pins disposed adjacent one another to both sides of the central lengthwise axis of the associated ski, these pins cooperating with recesses provided at the relevant end of the release plate in such a manner that during sideward release of the release plate only always one of both locking pins comes into operable play, yet upon loading the release plate towards the top and in the lengthwise direction of the ski both locking pins come into play.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SAFETY SKI BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved safety ski binding incorporating a release plate intended to be fixed to the ski boot and which can be locked by means of locking pins at the associated ski.

With previously known prior art safety ski bindings of this general type a locking pin which can be displaced or pivoted against the action of spring force cooperated with at least one end of the release plate. This locking pin was arranged at the central region of the ski and engaged with a recess of the release plate. However, it has been found when utilizing such type of locking pin it is difficult to obtain the different release forces desired during release of the release plate towards the side and towards the top or in the direction of the length of the ski. Furthermore, with this prior art construction of ski binding it was not readily possible to realize a different adjustment of the release force for obtaining a release action towards one or the other side, which under certain circumstances could be considered as quite advantageous. Moreover, the locking action which was provided at only one respective location can impair the intentionally desired rigid connection between the release plate and the ski which should prevail during skiing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved ski binding which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art ski binding constructions discussed above.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to the provision of a novel safety ski binding ensuring for positive release of the foot of the skier from the binding when encountering circumstances where it is desired for such release action positively to occur.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to a novel safety ski binding which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to adjust, requires a minimum of maintenance, and affords good safety release action between the foot of the user and the ski when encountering skiing circumstances which warrant release of the skiers foot from the ski.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of this invention which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, and specifically for the purpose of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art ski binding construction discussed above, the safety ski binding of this invention is provided at least at one end of the release plate with two locking pins which are arranged adjacent one another and to both sides of the central length-wise axis of the associated ski. These locking pins cooperate with recesses or depressions provided at the relevant end of the release plate in such a manner that during sideward release of the release plate only one of both locking pins is effective, but upon loading the release plate towards the top and in the lengthwise direction of the ski both such locking pins are effective There can thus be obtained a more favorable behavior of the release forces. Furthermore, both locking pins can be adjusted differently in respect of the loading thereof so as to have different effective actions, in order to accommodate such to different loads which are encountered when twisting in the one or the other direction or to the different loads encountered during skiing, for instance when skiing down a slope or when snow ploughing. Also, the lateral tilting release and combined release is improved and the release plate itself is pressed against the ski at a number of locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, it will be seen that a release plate 2 is locked at the ski 1 through the agency of two similar locking mechanisms 3 and 4. The respective housings 5 of each such locking mechanism 3 and 4 are attached by means of two respective screws 6 or other fastening expedients with the body of the ski 1. Within each housing 5 there are guided for axial displacement two locking pins 7 possessing semi-spherical shaped terminal portions 8. A respective pressure or compression spring 9 arranged within each housing 5 loadingly acts upon each associated locking pin 7. Each such pressure spring 9 bears against an adjustment screw 10, by means of which it is possible to adjust individually, for each pin 7, the pressure exerted thereon by the associated pressure spring 9. The semi-spherical shaped terminal portions 8 of the locking pins 7 engage with appropriate recesses 11 provided at an associated neighboring upright or upstanding marginal portion 12 at each end of the release plate 2. Between both these recesses 11 located at each marginal portion 12 there is provided a projection in the form of a run-on or contact surface 13 and beneath such a further projection in the form ofa bevelled or chamfered portion 14. For engaging the release plate 12 it will be understood that one end is placed upon the ski 1 and pushed against the associated locking pins 7 until the end portions 8 thereof enter into the recesses 11 provided at the corresponding marginal edge 12. Then the opposite end of the release plate 12 is forcefully dwnwardly pressed so that the bevelled portion 14 provided at this end of such release plate acts upon .both locking pins 7 and displaces such back against the action of the associated springs 9, whereupon the locking pins 7 and this end of the release plate engage with the recesses 9 at such end and the release plate 2 is thereby firmly secured to the ski 1.

At the front edge 2 of the release plate 2 there is secured a sole holder 15 by means of a screw 16 or equivalent attachment device. The sole holder 15 is provided with two downwardly directed cams or dogs 17 which bear against the neighboring marginal edge 12 and positionally fix this sole holder or sole retaining element 15. By means of this sole holder 15, the ski boot 18 shown in phantom lines, is fixedly held at its front region against the release plate 2. At the rear end of the ski boot such is fixedly held against the release plate 2 through the agency of a clamping lever arrangement 19, this clamping lever arrangement 19, when in its tensioned state, acting upon the heel of the ski boot l8 and being pivotally connected in conventional fashion with the release plate 2 through the agency of connecting elements 20 and the tension springs 21.

As should be apparent, during a sidewards release, that is during rocking of the release plate 2 at the front or at the rear towards the one or the other side, always one of the rocking pins 7 will be retracted against its spring force and will slide over the contact or run-on surface 13, whereas the other locking pin 7 will not be rearwardly displaced i.e. is merely ineffectual. On the other hand, during loading of the release plate 2 towards the top and/or in the lengthwise direction of the ski, a condition which would exist during a fall of the skier forwardly or rearwardly, both of the locking pins 7 will be displaced against the action of their associated springs 9. The positioning screws 10 can be adjusted independently of one another so that the locking pins 7 can be adjusted for different force intensities for the purpose of accommodating the ski binding to different loads.

Instead of providing at both ends of the release plate 2 a respective locking mechanism of the type discussed above and each equipped with two locking pins 7, it would be possible also to provide only one such locking mechanism at one end of the release plate and to have the opposite end of the release plate 2 exhibit a bevelled or chamfered portion in conventional manner, which then would engage in the usual way with a corresponding configured recess provided at a plate secured to the ski, such as for instance disclosed in Swiss Pat. No. 443,089.

Furthermore, the locking mechanism, instead of being equipped with the axially displaceable locking pins, could also have locking pins which could be rocked or'pivoted to all sides and which then cooperate with appropriate recesses provided at the release plate, again similar to an arrangement disclosed in the aforementioned Swiss Pat. No. 443,089.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A safety ski binding for both lateral and vertical release actions comprising a release plate including means for fixing a ski boot thereto, means on the ski adjacent the front and rear ends of the plate for releasably locking the release plate to the ski, said release means including, said locking pin means comprising only two spring-loaded locking pin members arranged in the region of one end of said release plate adjacent one another and positionable on both sides of a central longitudinal axis of the associated ski, one of said two spring-loaded locking pin members solely participating in the lateral release action of the ski binding to one side and the other of said two spring-loaded locking pin 'members solely participating in the lateral release action of the ski binding to the opposite side, both of said two spring-loaded locking pin members participating in the vertical release action of the ski binding, said re lease plate including an end portion confronting said locking pin members for cooperating therewith to releasably lock the plate and the ski, said confronting end portion of said release plate including two projections, a first of said projections engaging beneath both of the locking pin members for acting upon said locking pin members during vertical release action of the safety ski binding, the second of said projections being located only intermediate said two locking pin members, said release plate being of a contour devoid of any projections at the respective opposite lateral sides of the two locking pin members which could prevent free unobstructed lateral movement of the release plate to either side during lateral release action of the safety ski binding, said second projection thereby only effectively acting at any one time during the lateral release action upon a single one of the locking pin members while the other locking pin member is totally ineffectual during such lateral release action to oppose such lateral release action due to said free unobstructed lateral movement, whereby the force needed for the lateral release action of the safety ski binding is automatically less than the force needed for the vertical release action of the safety ski binding.

2. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, further including another pair of said locking pin members provided at the opposite end of said release plate, so that said release plate can be locked to the ski at four locations.

3. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said first projection provided at the end of said release plate confronting said locking pin members comprises a downwardly directed substantially bevelled portion.

4. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the force required for the lateral release action is approximately one-half of that required for the vertical release action since only half the number of locking pin members are effective during the lateral release action as during the vertical release action. 

1. A safety ski binding for both lateral and vertical release actions comprising a release plate including means for fixing a ski boot thereto, means on the ski adjacent the front and rear ends of the plate for releasably locking the release plate to the ski, said release means including, said locking pin means comprising only two spring-loaded locking pin members arranged in the region of one end of said release plate adjacent one another and positionable on both sides of a central longitudinal axis of the associated ski, one of said two spring-loaded locking pin members solely participating in the lateral release action of the ski binding to one side and the other of said two spring-loaded locking pin members solely participating in the lateral release action of the ski binding to the opposite side, both of said two spring-loaded locking pin members participating in the vertical release action of the ski binding, said release plate including an end portion confronting said locking pin members for cooperating therewith to releasably lock the plate and the ski, said confronting end portion of said release plate including two projections, a first of said projections engaging beneath both of the locking pin members for acting upon said locking pin members during vertical release action of the safety ski binding, the second of said projections being located only intermediate said two locking pin members, said release plate being of a contour devoid of any projections at the respective opposite lateral sides of the two locking pin members which could prevent free unobstructed lateral movement of the release plate to either side during lateral release action of the safety ski binding, said second projection thereby only effectively acting at any one time during the lateral release action upon a single one of the locking pin members while the other locking pin member is totally ineffectual during such lateral release action to oppose such lateral release action due to said free unobstructed lateral movement, whereby the force needed for the lateral release action of the safety ski binding is automatically less than the force needed for the vertical release action of the safety ski binding.
 2. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, further including another pair of said locking pin members provided at the opposite end of said release plate, so that said release plate can be locked to the ski at four locations.
 3. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein said first projection provided at the end of said release plate confronting said locking pin members comprises a downwardly directed substantially bevelled portion.
 4. The safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the force required for the lateral release action is approximately one-half of that required for the vertical release action since only half the number of locking pin members are effective during the lateral release action as during the vertical release action. 